I’ve never posted scones before! So I have to use lots of exclamation points!
Okay, I’m kidding. About the exclamation points, not the scones. I’ll try and control myself, but it can be hard sometimes.
When you’re a parent, weekends are often more tiring and hectic than the weekdays. Most people head home Friday afternoon with happy plans to sleep and kick back. Or at least, that’s the perception I get. But our weekends are quite different.
This past Saturday, I got hit with a migraine. My whole life, migraines have hit after periods of stress. So after each baby was born, bam! Migraine. After I finish a stressful project? Bam again. And after a long work week with lots of conflict and worry, along comes another. I’m used to them by now. They’re just kind of hard to recover from when you’re home with three noisy kids. Screaming, screeching kids.
By Saturday night, I knew I had to bake. I was listlessly paging through cookbooks, looking for inspiration, trying to avoid the dessert I’d promised myself I would bake. That happens sometimes. I get excited about baking, but then there are 20 steps involved and I just. Can. Not.
Suddenly, I remembered my baking cabinet. It’s a candy lover’s dream. Kenny has strict instructions not to raid my baking cabinet, and he doesn’t really follow the rules. I often find him with his hand inside, pulling out handfuls of mini M & Ms or peanut butter chips. And he wonders why our grocery lists always include more of that stuff.
Sitting in that cabinet was an acquisition I had yet to try: the cherry-flavored Nestle brand of filled chocolate chips. My mind combined those chips with almond meal, and it all came together. After all, the next day was Mother’s Day, and my mother loves almond. Cherry almond scones would be perfect.
Scones are not difficult to make, despite daunting pictures everywhere of shaved frozen butter. You can definitely use frozen butter, but if you work quickly, cold butter works. I would recommend a pastry blender if you have one, but if not, life goes on.
As for the base, I substituted some of the regular flour for almond meal. That, along with almond extract, provides a perfect pairing with those cherry-filled chocolate chips. And it’s a very springtime-esque scone to present to anyone!
Weekends are crazy, and sometimes I can’t decide what to bake until the last minute. But somehow, everything turns out okay, migraine or not. And when the headache fades and the work week starts, I can relax with a bunch of baked goods. It is what it is, friends!
Ingredients
Instructions
You all know how much peanut butter blondies rock, right? What if they were in muffin form? What then?
If you are getting excited, join me. I’m pretty psyched about these. You see, I’ve never been much of a muffin girl. To me, a muffin is a cupcake without frosting. Yes, I know that’s technically wrong, but whatever.
When a muffin gets to emulate one of my favorite dessert bars, though, I’m down. These are the best dang muffins I’ve had in many a day.
As Snowzilla cleanup continues, I have been getting my baking on in a serious way. The only question is, who will receive all the fruits of my baking labor?
Nothing sparks my carb cravings like being snowbound, so being trapped in the house means I had to make scones. And not just any scones, either. This recipe is a version of the great Dorie Greenspan’s cream scones, which come together quickly, easily, and perfectly.
I only made one change: I added mini chocolate chips and drizzled chocolate on top. I mean, how could I not? But if you’re a purist, by all means leave them out.
Happy New Year! It’s my first post of 2016, and I’m so excited to see what this year will bring!
If there’s one food I want to see lots of in the coming year, it’s homemade bread. We’re all familiar with the yeasty goodness of bread that doesn’t come in plastic bags from the grocery store, and it’s so easy to get a perfect loaf with just a little help from my best friend, a.k.a. the bread machine. Life was so cold and dark before we met!
Luckily, fresh bread is always possible, and this one is special. It’s made with mostly whole wheat flour, which will help you stick to your healthy eating resolutions. It’s also full of walnuts for an extra protein punch, not to mention sweet Craisins® Dried Cranberries. It’s a loaf worth making!
Oh I love these scones, Mir! Great job on posting your first ones! Cherry almond sounds like such a great flavor. This would be perfect with my morning cup of coffee!
Gayle @ Pumpkin ‘N Spice recently posted…Tortellini with Mustard Cream Sauce
Thanks, Gayle! They are perfect with coffee.
Cherry and almond go so well together. That flavour combo reminds me of a delicious bakewell tart – one of my favourite treats.
Dannii @ Hungry Healthy Happy recently posted…Comment on Quorn Meat Free Sausage, Roast Pepper and Rocket Salad by Becca @ Amuse Your Bouche
I’ve never had a Bakewell tart, Dannii! I seriously need some overseas treats in my diet!
Migraines are the worst!!! These scones look like they could cure most anything though 😉 I don’t make them often enough and this is the best flavor combo!
Megan – The Emotional Baker recently posted…The Very Best Vegan Banana Bread
Thanks, Megan. I do love cherry with almond. It’s a fantastic pairing!
I’m sorry to hear about so many migraines! I would have never known you’re not a master of scones if you hadn’t told me. These are pretty terrific for a first go!
Rachelle @ Beer Girl Cooks recently posted…Lobster Salad
Thanks, Rachelle! I hate being afraid of making things. I just want to buckle down and try it sometimes!
I love the big flecks of almonds in these scones. I haven’t mastered scones yet, but practice makes perfect! Yours look brilliant for a first try! Keep up the good work, and rest those migraines when you can 🙂
Heather – Butter & Burlap recently posted…Chocolate-Hazelnut Rocky Road Ice Cream
Thanks, Heather! We all have to start somewhere. I wanted my scones to have almonds!
How did I now know that you have THREE kids. Girl, I applaud you .. and migraines SUCK. Weekends are us are always slammed with things: errands, events, and for me, sometimes cooking and baking for the blog. I hope to relax more on the weekends during the summer. ok, I love scones. . like love/like them. . and need to get some cherry-flavored chocolate chips stat!!! delicious!!
Alice @ Hip Foodie Mom recently posted…Shaved Asparagus and Pesto Pizza
Yep, three. I had them all really close together without thinking about it much, which is the way to go. Otherwise, I would have realized I was crazy. Now I’m glad they’re all there! But they make for very crazy weekends. You have to try the cherry chips, Alice! They are so good. And I usually don’t do cherry, but in this case, addictive!
How did I “not” know. . I hate typos. .
Alice @ Hip Foodie Mom recently posted…Shaved Asparagus and Pesto Pizza
YUM! I have been in the mood for scones lately but when I bake something I have a hard time giving up chocolate…haha But these have chocolate in them! Why didn’t I think of that?!
Katelyn @munchie pie recently posted…Taco Cornbread Casserole
Chocolate in scones is not even an option, Katelyn! You must try!
These sound delicious! I LOVE scones, and love the add-ins here!!
Sam @ SugarSpunRun recently posted…Bacon Praline Shortbread Bites
Thanks, Sam! I’m all about add-ins. They make me happy in baked goods, ice cream…you name it!
love scones and this combination is just delicious! I hope you are feeling better now Mir, headache are awful but I am sure these scones would have helped 🙂
Manali @ CookWithManali recently posted…Dhaba Dal
Thanks, Manali! Scones always help. At least, in my world!
Oh no! I have the deepest sense of empathy for people who get migraines. I can’t even handle a sinus infection, so I can’t even imagine. I hope these scones helped! They look absolutely amazing, two of my very favorite flavors combined in perfection!
Lisa @ Wine & Glue recently posted…Strawberry Basil Mojito
Sinus infections are worse because they just don’t go away, Lisa! At least migraines do. Thanks much!
These scones look awesome! Sorry to hear about the migraine. They run in my family, and I’ve only ever had one and it was AWFUL. I love the cherry chocolate chips and sound slike your baking adventure ended up amazingly 🙂
Medha @ Whisk & Shout recently posted…{Vegan!} Banana Bundt Cake + Caramel Sauce
I like it when bad days end up good, especially with baked goods on the counter. Thanks so much, Medha!
Thanks Mir for sharing this. I’m definitely going to try this out.
I love scones for that reason – they’re easy and SO good. Sorry about the migraines – yuck. Love this recipe!
Dorothy @ Crazy for Crust recently posted…Lemon Crumb Muffins
Thanks, Dorothy! Scones make up for migraines, so it’s all good!
Migraines are so killer. They kill everything but at least they didn’t kill your desire to make these fantastic scones!!
Jocelyn (Grandbaby cakes) recently posted…Homemade Cookies And Cream Ice Cream
Nothing can stop the baking, Jocelyn! 🙂
Hope you migraine is gone now? I always feel so bad for people that get migraines. My mom gets them and she literally gets so sick to her stomach. I always feel better baking too. And I love love scones. I think I love them more than cake, hehe. These look wonderful Mir! Pinned!
Cyndi – My Kitchen Craze recently posted…Succotash Ragout
Yeah, there’s some weird stomach connection with migraines. It’s nauseating. Scones can definitely be better than cake. Thanks for pinning!
Migraines are the worst – I used to get those all the time after getting a concussion playing hockey. I was SO happy when they finally stopped! These scones look amazing, I love the cherry and almond combo!
Stacey @ Bake.Eat.Repeat. recently posted…Lemon Yogurt Bread
Thanks, Stacey! Concussions are just bad, bad things. I’m glad yours stopped!
I used to get migraines bad when I was a teenager, they’re not fun to deal with at all. Hope you’re feeling better though! These scones do look like a great way to feel better! Love the cherry and almond combination.
Danielle recently posted…Baked Onion Rings
I’m glad they’re gone for good, Danielle! Never fun.
I’ve never ever made scones before! I love eating them and always order them when I see them out, but I’ve always been scared to make them at home! These look awesome and I love all the flavors you packed in them 🙂
Izzy @ She Likes Food recently posted…Macaroni and Cheese with Shredded Carrots + Cookbook Review
Thanks, Izzy! Don’t fear them. They were bizarrely trouble-free. I’m glad you like them!
As a fellow migraine sufferer, I know how awful they can be – hang in there! In the meantime, these scones looks like they could cure migraines…SO scrumptious!
Kate @ Framed Cooks recently posted…Lobster Potato Salad
Thanks, Kate! Migraines are part of life, but thankfully, so are scones!
These sound so good. I love anything with cherry in. Thanks for sharing.
Simon
I’m so glad!